Large-scale rural depopulation has altered the rural environment and reshaped the distribution pattern of species. However, the impact of rural depopulation on biodiversity is unclear. Based on plant species richness data, we used random forest model (RFM) and generalized additive model (GAM) to explore the impact of rural depopulation on plant diversity. The results showed that a 1.82 % decrease in human pressure in rural depopulation areas in China promoted vegetation restoration and increased plant diversity. Plant diversity in rural decreased by 2.25 % on average, while it increased by 3.75 % in rural areas that experienced depopulation. Plant diversity was 1.48 times greater in the severely depopulated rural areas than in the slightly depopulated areas. When the total population reaches around 1.33 billion, the plant diversity affected by population changes will reach a threshold. This research helps understand the potential positive impacts of rural depopulation on environmental restoration and plant diversity increase.